Geranium plant named `Baldesvio`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `Baldesvio`, characterized by its numerous semi-double reddish purple-colored flowers; upright growth habit; basal branching; good vigor; and medium green leaves with faint darker green zonation pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Baldesvio.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new cultivars with freely-branching growth habit,medium green-colored foliage, uniform flowering, and interesting flowerand foliage colors.

The new Geranium originated from a cross made by the Inventor of theproprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 7797-A as the male, or pollenparent, with the proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 8410 as thefemale, or seed parent. The cultivar Baldesvio was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif., inJanuary, 1996.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atArroyo Grand, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this newGeranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Baldesvio`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Baldesvio` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous semi-double reddish purple-colored flowers.

2. Upright growth habit.

3. Basal branching and vigorous.

4. Medium green leaves with faint darker green zonation pattern.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, Americana Violet,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,750. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Arroyo Grande, Calif., plants of the newGeranium differ from plants of the cultivar Americana Violet in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Geranium are broader than plants of the cultivarAmericana Violet.

2. Leaves of plants of the new Geranium have shorter and thickerpetioles than plants of the cultivar Americana Violet.

3. Plants of the new Geranium have larger flowers but fewer flowers perumbel than plants of the cultivar Americana Violet.

4. Flower color of plants of the new Geranium is more purple than flowercolor of plants of the cultivar Americana Violet.

A detailed comparison of plants of the cultivar Baldesvio and thecultivar Americana Violet, as grown side by side, appears in Chart A atthe end of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a top perspectiveview of a typical plant of `Baldesvio`.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of `Baldesvio`. Flower and foliage colors in thephotograph may appear different from the actual colors due to lightreflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Baldesvio has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 10-cm pots inArroyo Grande, Calif., under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures about 20° to 22° C., night temperaturesabout 18° to 20° C. and light levels generally about 2,500 to 3,000footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Baldesvio.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 7797-A.

Female parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 8410.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 7 days at 18° C.

Time to develop roots.--About 21 days at 18° C.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Upright growth habit. Appropriate for 10 and12.5-cm containers.

Crop time.--Starting with a rooted cutting, about eight weeks arerequired to produced a finish flowering plant in 10-cm container.

Growth and branching habit.--Vigorous and basally branching with abouttwo lateral branches at the base. Pinching, that is, removal of theterminal apex, is usually not required.

Plant height (to top of foliage):--About 12 to 17 cm.

Plant width.--About 20 to 25 cm.

Lateral branches.--Length: About 10 to 11 cm. Internode length: About 1to 2 cm. Color: 146B.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant,opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 9 to 11. Length:About 4.9 to 5.6 cm. Width: About 7.5 to 8 cm. Shape: Reniform. Apex:Rounded. Base: Cordate. Margin: Crenate. Venation: Palmate. Texture:Both surfaces slightly pubescent; velvety. Color: Young and fullyexpanded foliage, upper surface: 137B with faint zonation pattern, 137Ain color, about 2 to 3 cm wide. Young and fully expanded foliage, lowersurface: 137C. Venation, upper surface: 137C. Venation, lower surface:137D. Petiole: Length: About 5.5 to 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm.Color: 137C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Reddish purple-colored flowers. Freely andcontinuously flowering. Flowers arranged in generally hemisphericalumbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above or beyondthe foliage. At full flowering, usually about three to five open umbelsand one or two developing umbels per plant. Flowers semi-double andround. Umbels persistent. Not fragrant.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In thegarden, flowering is continous from spring until fall.

Umbels.--Number of flowers per umbel: About 30 to 40. Diameter: About10.5 to 13 cm. Height: About 8 to 9 cm.

Flowers.--Diameter: About 5.4 to 5.6 cm. Depth (height): About 1.2 cm.

Flower buds.--Length: About 1.3 to 2 cm. Diameter: About 7 to 9 mm.Shape: Elliptical.

Petals.--Quantity: About 7 to 9 petals and about 2 to 4irregularly-shaped petaloids per flower. Arrangement: Imbricate. Length:About 2.5 to 3.1 cm. Width: About 2 to 2.6 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color, fullyopened flowers: Upper two petals, upper surface: 74A; venation, 71B;towards base, 43B. Upper two petals, lower surface: 74C; venation, 74B;towards base, 43C. Lower petals, upper surface: 74A; venation, 71B.Lower petals, lower surface: 74C; venation, 74B.

Sepals.--Quantity: About 5, not imbricate. Length: About 1.2 to 1.3 cm.Width: About 3 to 4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Pointed. Margin:Entire. Texture: Pilose. Color, upper and under surfaces: 146B.

Peduncle (umbel stem) .--Length: About 16 to 18 cm. Angle: Erect.Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.

Pedicel (individual flower stem).--Length: About 3.5 to 4.4 cm. Angle:Upright or outward. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Base,green (146A); towards flower, 183B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Anther size: About 2 mm. Anther color:59A. Pollen color: 170A. Gynoecium: Ovary color: Green.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Pelargonium hasnot been observed.

Seed development: Seed production has not been observed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                                                    `AMERICANA                                        CHARACTERISTIC                                                                            `BALDESVIO`      VIOLET`                                          ______________________________________                                        PLANT HEIGHT                                                                              About 12 to 17 cm                                                                             About 14 to                                       (to top of foliage)         17 cm                                             PLANT WIDTH About 20 to 25 cm                                                                             About 19 to                                                                   20 cm                                             LEAF LENGTH About 4.9 to 5.6 cm                                                                           About 4.4 to                                                                  5.2 cm                                            LEAF WIDTH  About 7.5 to 8 cm                                                                             About 8 to                                                                    8.5 cm                                            PETIOLE LENGTH                                                                            About 5.5 to 7 cm                                                                             About 8 to 9 cm                                   PETIOLE     About 2 to 3 mm About 1.5 to                                      DIAMETER                    2 mm                                              UMBEL       About 10.5 to 13 cm                                                                           About 9.5 to                                      DIAMETER                    11 cm                                             NUMBER OF   About 30 to 40  About 100 to                                      FLOWERS PER                 110                                               UMBEL                                                                         FLOWER       About 5.4 to 5.6 cm                                                                          About 4.5 to                                      DIAMETER                     5 cm                                             FLOWER DEPTH                                                                              About 1.2 cm    About 1.6 cm                                      PETAL COLOR,                                                                              74A;            66A;                                              UPPER PETALS,                                                                             venation, 71B;  venation, 67A;                                    UPPER SURFACE                                                                             towards base, 43B                                                                             towards base,                                                                  41A                                              PETAL COLOR,                                                                              74C;            66B;                                              UPPER PETALS,                                                                             venation, 74B;  venation, 67A;                                    LOWER SURFACE                                                                             towards base, 43C                                                                             towards base,                                                                 41B                                               PETAL COLOR,                                                                              74A;            66A;                                              LOWER PETALS,                                                                             venation, 71B   venation, 67A                                     UPPER SURFACE                                                                 PETAL COLOR,                                                                              74C;            66B;                                              LOWER PETALS,                                                                             venation, 74B   venation, 67A                                     LOWER SURFACE                                                                 SEPAL LENGTH                                                                              About 1.2 to 1.3 cm                                                                           About 1 to 1.1 cm                                 PEDICEL LENGTH                                                                            About 3.5 to 4.4 cm                                                                           About 2.9 to                                                                  3.5 cm                                            PEDICEL COLOR                                                                             Base, green (146A);                                                                           143C                                                          towards flower, 183B                                              ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named`Baldesvio`, as illustrated and described.